Ger. A Faithful Servant is the best of Friends,
Since he is nearest alwayes to assist us;
But stay, I cannot guess from all I’ve heard,
The cause that should disturb Antonio;
Except ’tis Jealousie: Yet how can that
be?
If Caelia’s vitious there’s no
vertuous Women.
But now I think how much he rail’d at Marriage,
And more our Arguments concerning doubt,
These things perswade he’s Jealous! But
of whom?
The more I think, the more I am confounded!
How Clouded Man
Doubts first, and from one doubt doth soon proceed
A thousand more in solving of the first;
Like Nighted Travellers we lose our way;
Then every Ignis Fatuus makes us stray.
By the false Lights of Reason led about,
Till we arrive where we at first set out:
“Nor shall we e’re Truths perfect High-way
see,
Till dawns the Day-break of Eternity.”
[Exit.
Enter Eugenia_._
Eug. I am amaz’d the Nurse should stay
so long;
My Anger makes each minute seem an hour:
That Woman is a thing made up of mischief;
Some Fatal Devil sure did guide the Choyce
My Mother made, in choosing her our Nurse.
She’s Fool to th’ height: And yet
hath wit enough
To tread all Labyrinths of Treachery;
But that’s no wonder: For who’s Treacherous
That wants not Eyes to see it’s ugly Form?
For now I fear, and I believe not vainly,
That Villain, Jasper, knows all my concerns,
Or what could prompt him to that Impudence
He did express in his address today.
Enter Nurse.
Thou fatal Hagg, thou Mother of all mischief,
What Devil taught thy perjur’d Tongue the way
To tell the shame which thou didst first occasion?
Nurse. Pray what ayls you, Madam, are you mad?
Eug. I wish I was, as I have cause enough,
For then I should not know the shame attends me,
In being Table-talk for every Rascal,
As thou (Hell thank thee for it) now hast made me.
Nurse. I made you Table-talk! There’s
no such thing;
I’ve been too faithful to you, that I have;
Losing my sleep full oft to watch your pleasure.
And is this all I get? It is no matter, I
Shall be even with you.
Eug. Threaten on (for thou hast Acted all thy threats, Imp) In letting Jasper know my shame and folly.
Nurse. Jasper knows nothing, that he does not, from me, And I will ask him; fore your face, I will, If I e’re said Francisco lay with you.
Eug. ’Tis plain, thy guilt transported
thee to madness,
Else thou wouldst never make thy Tongue a Herauld
So loud, for to proclaim to all the House
The Action you’d perswade me still is secret.
Nurse. If you talk lowd your self, why may not I? But I’le bring Jasper to you shall deny all.
Eug. What mischief upon mischief she designs?
Dost think, like thine, my Modesty is gone?
To have this argu’d out before my face
And such a Villaine by?—